The Effect of a Downstream Rotor on the Measured Performance of a Transonic Turbine Nozzle

Two nozzle designs, involving the same low aspect ratio, high turning angle vanes, and differing in outer wall contour, were tested over a range of exit Mach numbers up to supersonic values. The experiments were conducted on a large-scale, full annular configuration with and without a representative rotor downstream. Nozzle performance was found to be significantly affected by rotor operation, the influence depending on the detailed characteristics of the nozzle flow field, as well as on the design and operation of the rotor itself. It is suggested that performance evaluation of low aspect ratio nozzles of high turning angle may require appropriate testing with a rotor.